Spring loaded sleeve lug



Dec. 3, 1968 w. P. M CARTHY SPRING LOADED SLEEVE LUG Filed Feb. 10, 1966INVENTOR %//'///'0/7? Me Car/fly Y 7 ATT gfi nited States Patent3,413,772 SPRING LOADED SLEEVE LUG William P. McCarthy, Kansas City,Mo., assignor t0 Ridgewood instrument Company, Kansas City, Mo., acorporation of Missouri Filed Feb. 10, 1966, Ser. No. 526,467 4 Claims.(Cl. 52-677) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A lug for supporting formsleeves which are vertically positioned on a surface to be covered withconcrete, the lug having a base to be secured to said surface, a pair ofupright legs at one end of the base and a clamp element secured to thebase and spaced from the legs, the legs being laterally offset withrespect to the clamp, the clamp element defining a cam surface andpoints whereby the sidewall of the sleeve may be inserted between thelegs and the clamp and retained therebetween during pouring of theconcrete.

It is the primary object of this invention to obviate the need forwelding lugs on form sleeves which are to be positioned on a surface tobe covered with concrete, by providing a spring-loaded sleeve lug whicheasily fits on the mounting end of the sleeve prior to securing thelatter to the concrete forms. The lugs may then be nailed or otherwisesecured to the forms to dispose the sleeve in the desired verticalposition.

Another important object of the instant invention is to provide a sleevelug which will readily accommodate virtually all thicknesses anddiameters of sleeves so that only a single universal size lug need beavailable to the construction worker in preparing passageways of varyingdimensions through the finished floor.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a universal lugof the aforementioned character wherein a pair of spaced, uprightelements are secured to a base, one of the elements being spring-loadedso that the lug may be fitted onto the sidewall :of the sleeve and willbe retained thereon through the clamping action provided by theelements.

Other objects include details of structure which facilitate fitting ofthe lug on the sleeve and additionally, assure optimum clamping strengthof the lug, these and other objects becoming apparent from the followingspecification and accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of a springloaded sleeve lug madepursuant to the teachings of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view thereof;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the lug blank prior to bending of the same toform a finished lug;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a plurality of lugs shown mounted on a sleeve;and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 5 andshowing the lugs fastened to a concrete form.

The lug of the present invention, broadly designated by the referencenumeral 10, may be formed from an initially planar sheet of resilientmaterial 12 having a pcripheral free edge 13, the sheet blank beingshown in FIG. 4. Sheet 12 has a pair of substantially parallel,spaced-apart slits 14 formed therein, the slits each commencing at thefree edge 13 of the blank 12, and each terminating at points 17 insubstantially aligned relationship, said terminal points 17 being spacedinwardly from free edge 13 of the blank 12 opposite to that at whichsaid slits 14 commence, to thereby define a center por- "ice tion 16 anda pair of outer portions 18. Center portion 16 is shorter in length thanthe adjacent outer portions 18 as is clear from FIG. 4.

A line of bend 20 with an offset center stretch 21 is formed in sheet 12and traverses portions 16 and 18 in perpendicular relationship to slits14. A pair of inclined cut lines 22 are formed in center portion 16,each cut line 22 having one end thereof communicating with a proximalslit 14 and the opposed end terminating at stretch 21 of line of bend20. A line of weakness 23 traverses portions 16 and 18 parallel to lineof bend 20, lines 23 intersecting with slits 14 at points 17. Anaperture 24 is formed in sheet 12 in alignment with center portion 16.

Sheet 12 is preferably formed from a metallic material having highresilient qualities so that a lug may be constructed having optimumclamping action. Additionally, the material should be of a type which iseasily stamped and cut to form the blank shown in FIG. 4 whereby the lugmay be manufactured economically.

To form lug 10 from sheet 12, portion 16 is bent upwardly along line ofweakness 23 extending between termination points 17-17 adjacent aperture24, center portion 16 also being rebent along stretch 21 of line of bend20 to form an upright clamp element 26 having a generally arcuate,longitudinal configuration. When portion 16 is rebent along stretch 21,a pair of projections or points 28 are defined by out lines 22, and anormally upper section 29 and a lower section 31 are presented withintegral interconnection at stretch 21 of line of bend 20. As isapparent from FIGS. 1, 2 and 6, upper section 29 is planar inconfiguration and presents an inclined, upper cam surface 30, and lowersection 31 is also planar and disposed in angular relationship to uppersection 29 to present a generally arcuate or V-shaped clamp element 26.

Outer portions 18 are bent upwardly along line of bend 20 to form a pairof opposed leg elements 32 which are offset symmetrically with respectto clamp element 26. Legs 32 are substantially perpendicular to theplane of sheet 12 and, since they are bent at a spaced position fromclamp 26, they are disposed in spaced relationship with respect thereto.

The portions of sheet 12 which are not bent upwardly broadly define aU-shaped base member 34 having a bight or mounting section 36 withinwhich aperture 24 is formed and a bifurcated section 38 having a pair ofstretches 40 integrally connecting mounting section 36 withcorresponding legs 32. The finished lug 10, prior to use, thus takes theform shown in FIGS. 1-3.

In use, lug 10 is adapted for fitting on a sleeve 42 having a continuoussidewall 44 and an open mounting end 46. To fit lug 10 on sleeve 42 itis only necessary to draw clamp 26 away from legs 32 and slip lug 10onto sidewall 44. As lug 10 is placed onto sleeve 42, end 46 of sidewall44 engages cam surface 30 to facilitate sliding of the lug into fittedposition. Lug 10 may also be fitted onto sleeve 42 by simply hammeringthe bottom of base 34 to force clamp 26 away from legs 32.

When lug 10 is in its fitted position. as shown by each of the threelugs in FIGS. 5 and 6, points 28 of clamp 26 engage the outer surface ofsidewall 44 while the inner face of sidewall 44 is engaged by thecorners of legs 32 as shown in FIG. 5. It will be appreciated that clamp26 and legs 32 are properly spaced so that the resiliency of clamp 26will cause an embracing of sidewall 44 whereby lug 10 will be maintainedthereon. Points 28 tend to dig into the outer surface of sidewall 44 topreclude free sliding of lug 10 on sidewall 44 and thus serve asadditional retention means for lug 10, particularly to preventinadvertent removal thereof.

After the desired number of lugs 10 have been secured to end 46 ofsleeve 42, the latter is positioned vertically on a form 48 with thelower surface of base 34 being in face-to-face relationship with theupper surface of form 48. A fastener such as a nail 59 is driven throughaperture 24 into form 48 for securing lug 10 thereto. After each lug 10is secured to form 48, concrete may be poured onto the form and aroundsleeve 42, it being noted that the concrete will not flow over theportion of form 48 circumscribed by sidewall 44. After the concretefioor is finished, form 48 may be removed and sleeve 42 and itsassociated lugs 10 will be retained by the concrete and serve to definea passageway or opening therethrough.

It is noteworthy that lug 10 may be universally used on variousthicknesses and diameters of sleeves because the resiliency of clamp 26permits selective spaced relationship with respect to legs 32 so thatclamp 26 and legs 32 are able to compensate for the particular type ofsleeve. The actual number of lugs utilized for a specific sleeve ofcourse, depends on the size of sleeve and also on the particularconcrete pouring conditions.

It should also be emphasized that the lug of the present invention maybe economically manufactured by merely stamping and cutting planarblanks from a sheet of material, which blanks are representativelyillustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawing. The use of a stamped blank yieldsa lug having integrally related components, i.e., clamp 26 is agenerally arcuate, normally upward integral extension of bight 36, andlegs 32 comprise integral, vertical extensions of stretches 40. Themonolithic lug is easily fitted onto a sleeve for concrete pouringoperation and is by far more advantageous than methods heretofore used,such as the time-consuming and costly welding of lugs onto sleeves.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A lug for supporting a sleeve in a vertical position on a surface tobe covered with concrete, said sleeve having an open end and acontinuous sidewall, said lug comprising:

a base;

a first upn'ght leg element secured to said base;

a second upright leg element secured to said base;

an upright, resilient clamp clement secured to said base in spacedrelationship to said leg elements, said legs being offset symmetricallywith respect to said clamp whereby said clamp may be drawn away fromsaid legs and said lug fitted onto a portion of the sidewall of saidsleeve at the open end thereof so that said leg elements will engage onesurface of the sidewall and the clamp element will engage the othersurface of the sidewall, said base being secured to said surface;

said lug being formed from an initially planar sheet of resilientmaterial with a peripheral free edge, said sheet having a pair ofsubstantially parallel slits formed therein, said slits defining acenter portion and a pair of outer portions whereby said center portionis bent upwardly to present said clamp and said .4 outer portions arebent upwardly, at a spaced position from said clamp, to present saidlegs;

said sheet having a line of bend formed therein and traversing saidportions, said line of bend defining said spaced position on said outerportions; and

said center portion is rebent on said line of bend in a direction awayfrom said legs to present a clamp having a generally arcuateconfiguration.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said clamp presents normally upperand lower sections interconnected by said line of bend, said uppersection being planar in configuration and presenting an upper camsurface.

3. A lug for supporting a sleeve in a vertical position on a surface,said sleeve having an open end and a continuous sidewall, said lugcomprising:

a base;

a first and a second upright leg element secured to said base at one endthereof;

a clamp element secured to said base and spaced from said one endthereof, said clamp element being sutficiently laterally offset withrespect to said legs to place said leg elements and said clamp elementin spaced apart vertical planes, said leg elements being laterallyoffset symmetrically with respect to said clamp element, whereby saidlug may be fitted onto a portion of said sidewall of said sleeve, at theopen end thereof. with said leg elements engaging one surface of saidsidewall and said clamp element engaging the other surface thereof, saidengagement occurring at ciroumferentially spaced positions on saidsidewalls, said clamp element having a cam surface inclined downwardlytoward said one end of the Ibase to facilitate fitting said lug ontosaid sleeve by placing said sidewall between said leg elements and saidclamp element.

4. The invention of claim 3, said inclined cam surface defining at leastone point projecting therefrom at a location most proximal to said oneend of the base.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,212,843 l/1917 Struchen 526801,620,737 3/1927 Peterson 248188.7 1,767,823 6/1930 Vanderveld et a1.312l40 1,800,075 4/1931 Imrie 312l40 1,821,083 9/1931 Visel 312-1401,863,381 6/1932 Orthwine 312140 2,191,979 2/1940 Bierbach 52-6772,676,483 4/1954 Nelsson 52684 2,919,878 1/1960 Nathan 248l88 3,206,1509/1965 Lang et al 248-48 FOREIGN PATENTS 817,489 7/1959 Great Britain.

FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Primary Examiner.

